What does "kingdom" mean?
A realm having a king or queen as its actual or nominal sovereign.
Kingdom
/ˈkɪŋdəm/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A realm having a king or queen as its actual or nominal sovereign.
- Grammar: kingdom is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: realm, ally, animal kingdom, antonomasia.
- Useful contrasts: anarchy, archduchy, dukedom.
- Usage evidence: Our army took the kingdom by surprise.
How to use "kingdom"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kingdom" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kingdom" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kingdom" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kingdom" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kingdom" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "realm" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kingdom", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A realm having a king or queen as its actual or nominal sovereign.
"In 1924 the Hashemite King Hussein was driven out of the Hedjaz by Ibn Saud, and a state of war sprang up between the new kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Trans-Jordan."
- 2 a basic group of natural objects wordnet
- 3 A realm, region, or conceptual space where something is dominant.
"the kingdom of thought"
- 4 the highest taxonomic group into which organisms are grouped; one of five biological categories: Monera or Protoctista or Plantae or Fungi or Animalia wordnet
- 5 A rank in the classification of organisms, below domain and above phylum; a taxon at that rank (e.g. the plant kingdom, the animal kingdom).
"The Organized and inorganized kingdoms are distinguished from each other by peculiarities of chemical composition, of form and structure, and of actions or functions."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a monarchy with a king or queen as head of state wordnet
- 7 the domain ruled by a king or queen wordnet
- 8 a country with a king as head of state wordnet
- 9 a domain in which something is dominant wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Our army took the kingdom by surprise."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kingdom"?
Common synonyms include: realm, ally, animal kingdom, antonomasia, archduchy, archdukedom.
How do you use "kingdom" in a sentence?
Our army took the kingdom by surprise.
How do you pronounce "kingdom"?
Pronounced /ˈkɪŋdəm/.
Etymology
From Middle English kingdom, kyngdom, from Old English cyningdōm from Proto-Germanic *kuningadōmaz, equivalent to king + -dom. Cognate with Scots kingdom, West Frisian keuningdom, Dutch koningdom, German Königtum, Danish kongedømme, Swedish kungadöme, and Icelandic konungdómur. Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *kunją Proto-Indo-European *-n̥kʷo-der.? Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *-iHnos Proto-Germanic *-īnaz Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz ? Proto-Germanic *-ingaz Proto-Germanic *kuningaz Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *dʰóh₁mos Proto-Germanic *dōmaz Proto-Germanic *-dōmaz Proto-Germanic *kuningadōmaz Proto-West Germanic *kuningadōm Old English cyningdōm Middle English kingdom English kingdom